Month: February 2014

UPA govt “unduly generous” to Italian marines: R K Singh

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Former Union Home Secretary R K Singh tonight rejected the allegation that he was responsible for complicating the case relating to two Italian marines, accused of killing Indian fishermen off Kerala coast, and charged the UPA government was “unduly generous” to the marines”.

He said the charges under the tough anti-piracy SUA law had been invoked against them by Kerala Police and NIA.

Singh, who has since joined BJP, hit back at External Affiars Minister Salman Khurshid, questioning his legal understanding and claimed the UPA government was “unduly generous” to the marines.

Samajwadi corporator arrested for murder of RTI activist

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Exactly two months after the murder of a Right To Information (RTI) activist in the powerloom town of Bhiwandi, the police arrested a Samajwadi Party corporator last night, who had been evading arrest.

The arrested corporator Hasib alias Sherkhan Shaikh, was produced in the local court today and remanded to police custody until February 28, the police said.

KCR forgot Telangana Martyrs – Reventh Reddy alleges

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TDP leader Mr. Reventh Reddy criticized TRS President Mr. K. Chandrasekhara Rao and said that he is trying to take the credit of formation of Telangana. He appealed to the people to teach him a lesson. He asked Mr. KCR that what is the reason for not asking for special Package for the Martyrs of Telangana.

Afridi is best person to lead Pakistan ODI side: Yousuf

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After repeatedly criticising him for his shoddy performances, former Pakistan captain Muhammad Yousuf today batted urged PCB to consider flamboyant all-rounder Shahid Afridi in leadership role for the ODI team.

In the recent past, the barrage of criticism from Yousuf even prompted Afridi at one stage to dub him and Shoaib Akhtar as the “heckle and jeckle” and “Mr Bean” appearing on television channels.

But now it appears that Yousuf has made truce with temperamental Afridi.

Had little role in ‘One Rank, One Pension’ decision: Rahul

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Claiming that he had made “little” contribution in the decision to bring in the ‘One Rank, One Pension’ scheme, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi today said it should have been introduced 25 years ago.

Addressing a gathering of ex-servicemen from the region late in the evening, Gandhi said, “The decision should have been taken some 25 year back… Now that it has been taken this will benefit some 25 lakh soldiers and their families.”

US ready to give Ukraine financial aid

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The US is ready to provide financial support to Ukraine to complement the International Monetary Fund (IMF) aid in a bid to improve the East European country’s economy, White House said Monday.

“The United States, working with partners around the world, stands ready to provide support for Ukraine as it takes the reforms it needs to get back to economic stability,” Xinhua quoted White House spokesperson Jay Carney as saying.

Demand to display Wakf records online

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Mr. Meer Hadi Ali former member of APS Wakf Board demanded the Union Ministry of Minorities Affairs to display the details of Wakf Properties in the country on online. He also requested Mr. Syed Omer Jaleel, IAS, Special Secretary of Minorities Department and Mr. Shaik Mohammed Iqbal, IPS, Special Officer of APS Wakf Board and Commissioner of Minorities Dept.

Separate Family Court for Muslims demanded

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Mr. Shaik Mohammed Iqbal, IPS, Special Officer of APS Wakf Board assured that he will invite the attention of the Govt. for the formation of separate Family Court for Muslims so that many Muslim Women could get benefit out of it. He told it to a delegation consisting of Mr. Mohammed Farooq Ali Khan, Advocate (General Secretary), Mr. Nayeemullah Shareef (Convener), Mr. Mirza Yousuf Baig (Convener) and Mr. Zahoor Ahmed Advocate. The delegation submitted a detailed memorandum to Mr. Iqbal which consists of various suggestions.

Shinde threatens to “crush” electronic media indulging in anti-Congress propaganda

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Stoking a controversy, Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde threatened to “crush” the electronic media, alleging a section of it was unnecessarily provoking the Congress party by indulging in “false propaganda” against it.

The outburst by Shinde, a Congress leader who hails from Maharashtra’s Sholapur district, came at a Youth Congress event here last evening.

Mustafa Trust distribute Aid to Nampally School

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Mustafa Trust provided assistance to the school children of Urdu Medium Govt. School Nampally. The students were on sitting mats. The old furniture was got repaired and the students were given kits containing stationery. Mr. Shahid Ali Khan, President of the Trust and Ahmed Mohiuddin Vice President advised the students to work hard and to make an attempt to prepare for IAS, IFS, IPS and other tests.

–Siasat News

Boro’s wife files complaint against Assam CM, minister

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Purnima Boro, wife of the farmer activist who immolated himself today, filed a police case against Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and Revenue Minister Prithibi Majhi.

Purnima, in her case registered at the Dispur police station, alleged that her husband had to take the extreme step due to Gogoi and Majhi’s negligence in granting land ownership papers to the people living on hills in Guwahati.

The police station has confirmed that the case has been registered.

Leopard terror leads to shutdown in Meerut

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A wild leopard sparked off panic in Meerut when the big cat strayed into a crowded locality and later took refuge in a hospital, forcing the authorities to call for a shutdown in the city on Monday.

The city wore a deserted look as army personnel cordoned off the area after the leopard entered the Meerut Cantonment Hospital, creating panic among patients and hospital staff.

Reportedly, the caretaker of the hospital, spotted the leopard while it was entering the male ward.

All the schools, colleges and markets remained closed as the wildlife experts launched the search operation.

Governor survives blasts as Iraq violence kills 32

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Provincial governor Atheel al-Nujaifi, a brother of Iraq’s parliament speaker, today survived the third attempt on his life this month, as violence killed 32 people, officials said.

Iraq is suffering its worst unrest in years and authorities have so far failed to check daily violence targeting both civilians and security forces.

There have now been at least six attempts to kill Nujaifi in less than a year, showing that even the most senior official in the northern province of Nineveh — one of the most dangerous in Iraq — is vulnerable to attack.

India’s decision on marines ‘fruit of Italian firmness’: Rome

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Hours after India decided not to prosecute two of its marines accused of killing Indian fishermen under the strict anti-piracy SUA law, Italy today said the decision was the “fruit of Italian firmness”.

The decision not to “apply the anti-terrorism law was the fruit of Italian firmness”, Italian Premier Matteo Renzi said after chairing a meeting of a task force on the marines.

Italy would continue to push to have the case assessed by international bodies, Renzi was quoted as saying by Italian news agency ANSA.

Congress considering interim government in State!

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The Congress High Command is now engaged in a serious exercise to elicit views of senior party leaders from Andhra Pradesh with regard to the feasibility of installing an interim government instead of imposing President’s Rule following the resignation of Kiran Kumar Reddy as Chief Minister.

Wide Afghan support for post-Taliban government: study

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Despite a wave of violence, an overwhelming majority of Afghans believe their government is in control of the country and oppose a return to the Taliban, a survey said.

The yesterday’s study comes as concern mounts in the West for Afghanistan’s future. The United States is preparing to withdraw most of its troops this year, ending a war launched after the September 11, 2001 attacks.

Israel bombs Hezbollah target on Lebanon-Syria border

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Israel has bombarded a Hezbollah position on the Lebanon-Syria border, a Lebanese security source and a Syrian NGO said.

“Two Israeli raids hit a Hezbollah target on the border of Lebanon and Syria,” the source said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the target was a Hezbollah “missile base”.

Residents of Nabi Chit, on the Lebanese side of the border, told AFP they saw flare bombs light up the sky ahead of the raids yesterday, which shook their houses.

Residents in neighbouring areas said they heard planes flying low before the raids.

Obama approves Vietnam nuclear deal

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President Barack Obama has approved a civilian nuclear pact with Vietnam which could lead to the sale of US reactors to Washington’s energy-hungry former war foe.

The move yesterday by the president formally opened a 90-day review process in Congress. If no legislation is passed contravening the accord, it will then come into force.

Under the accord, US officials said, Vietnam committed not to produce radioactive ingredients for nuclear weapons and signed up to US non-proliferation standards, which the White House bills as the strongest in the world.

Chandrababu will mould future of Seemandhra: Somireddy

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TDP leader Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy today said party supremo Chandrababu Naidu is sculptor of Seemandhra region.

Addressing a party meeting organized at NTR trust bhavan here, Somireddy criticised both Congress and BJP. How can BJP senior leader Sushma Swaraj appreciate and call AICC president Sonia Gandhi as “Peddamma” (elder mother) who had vowed to tonsure her head if Sonia Gandhi became Prime Minister. (NSS)

Byreddy begins fast for Kurnool as new capital

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Byreddy Rajasekhara Reddy, who founded Rayalaseema Parirakshana Samithi (RPS) for achievement of Seemandhra capital in the Rayalaseema region, on Monday launched a two-day hunger strike.

The RPS president, after garlanding the statue of legendary Srikrishnadeva Rayalu in the morning, went in a procession along with students, party workers and leaders to the Hunger strike camp venue at Gandhi statue at Zilla Parishad Office to begin his fast.

Kanna, Botcha top contenders for CM post

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Even as the UPA led Congress Government at the Center is mulling options on appointing a new government in place or imposing President Rule in Andhra Pradesh, leaders of Telangana and Seemandhra are mounting pressure for Chief Minister post. Though Kapu leaders like Kanna Lakshminarayana and PCC Chief Botcha Satyanarayana’s names are being heard, Union Minister Chiranjeevi name is being figured at last minute, sources said.

‘US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan would not affect Kashmir’

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Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Monday said he does not believe the withdrawal of the US troops from Afghanistan would seriously impact the ground situation in the state.

Addressing the cadets of the police training school Sheeri in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district at the passing out parade, the chief minister said: “I know some people are worried over the situation in the state this year relating it to the withdrawal of the US troops from Afghanistan.

WhatsApp to introduce voice calls in second quarter

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World’s biggest mobile messaging service WhatsApp intends to add voice calling feature to its free messaging service in the second quarter of 2014, it was announced Monday.

The move is aimed at enabling WhatsApp users to be able to make calls, just as they can now text messages.

The latest announcement answers some of the questions behind WhatsApp’s recent purchase by Facebook for a price of $19 billion, Xinhua reported.

Modi spends Money in gathering the crowd. We don’t even offer people a cup of tea,

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Chai wala comments have taken the whole country by surprise and BJP is trying to encash on Congress party belitteling “Chai walas ” of the country but taking a jibe at the BJP’s tea sessions, AAP leader Yogendra Yadav on Monday accused the party of paying people to attend their rallies.

Bjp is spending Cores of rupees in holding raliies and“ In rallies of Narendra Modi, money is spent in gathering the crowd. We don’t even offer people a cup of tea,” Yadav told Aaj Tak.

Congress on President’s rule in Andhra

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Congress on Monday did not rule out imposition of President’s rule in Andhra Pradesh in the wake of Kiran Kumar Reddy resigning as chief minister to protest against division of the state.

Briefing reporters, AICC in-charge of Andhra Pradesh affairs Digvijay Singh was ambivalent about the successor of Reddy.

“Nothing is ruled out,” he replied to a question on whether President’s rule is ruled out.

To a query on who would replace Reddy, he said discussions are taking place in this connection and it would be known in the near future.